[0001] The present invention relates to new compounds obtained by complexing 2,2′,2˝,2‴-(4,8-dipiperidinopyrimido/5,4,d/-pyrimidine-2,6-diyldinitrilo)tetraethanol
(also called dipirydamole) with cyclodextrins or dimethylcyclodextrins of α, β and
γ type.
[0002] Dipyridamole is a compound endowed with platelet aggregation inhibiting properties,
antithrombotic and vasodilator properties used in the cardiac, cerebral and renal
pathology due to increased platelet aggregation capacity, in the coronary deficiency
either accompanied or not with anginous crisis, in the prophylaxis of myocardial
infarction and in cardiopathies as coadjuvant of the digitalis therapy.
It is known that dipyridamole is poor soluble in water at a pH higher than 5.5-6 (UK
Patent 807,826); furthermore, it is not well adsorbed and shows blood levels different
from one to another subject and for repeated administrations in the same subject.
On the other hand, to be active as platelet aggregation inhibiting agent, the compound
must cause blood levels in the man higher than 1 mcg/mg, but not higher than 2.0-2.5
mcg/ml, in that it might show some side effects, such as cephalea and nausea. Inclusion
complexes of cyclodextrins with some organic molecules have been already described
in the literature (Eur. Pat. Appln. 0153 998; U.S. Pat. 4,438,106).
[0003] It has been now found that dipyridamole gives inclusion complexes with α, β, and
γ cyclodextrins (natural cyclic substances consisting of 6,7 and 8 units of glucopyranose
respectively) or with dimethylcyclodextrins (prepared in laboratorium by selective
methylation of natural sustances) and it has been found that complexes thus obtained
are endowed with a greater stability, high solubility, are quicker adsorbed and better
tolerated than dipyridamole.
[0004] Thus, according to one of its aspects, the present invention relates to inclusion
complexes of dipyridamole with α, β or γ cyclodextrins.
[0005] Generally, in the complexes of the present invention the molar ratio dipyridamole:
cyclodextrin may vary from 1:10 to 1:1, advantageously from 1:1.3 to 1:6, preferably
from 1:2.5 to 1:5.
[0006] Among cyclodextrins, the β-cyclodextrin is particularly indicated.
[0007] According to another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a process
for the preparation of the above mentioned inclusion complexes. The process can be
practically performed according to one of the following procedures:
-the dipyridamole is directly stirred in an aqueous solution of cyclodextrins, the
complex is separated and dried by lyophilization, by heating in vacuo or by atomization
in hot air stream or,
-the dipyridamole is directly stirred in an aqueous solution of cyclodextrins made
strongly acidic (e.g. by HCl or formic acid) and the complex is separated by lyophilization,
atomization in hot air stream or drying by heating in vacuo, or
-the dipyridamole is dissolved in organic solvents (ethanol, chloroform), is stirred
with cyclodextrins dissolved in water; the complex contained in the aqueous phase
in separated by centrifugation and is dried by lyophilization or heating in vacuo.
The thus obtained complex shows always properties more favourable than dipyridamole.
[0008] The examples described hereinafter illustrate the invention but do not represent
in any way a limitation of the same.
Example 1
[0009] 1 g of dipyridamole is dispersed in 100 ml of a 2% aqueous solution of β-cyclodextrin
(2 g in all) and thereafter is kept under strong agitation at 37°C for 9-12 hr. At
the end, the whole is cooled to room temperature, is filtered off and the clear solution
is lyophilized.
Example 2
[0010] 417 mg of dipyridamole are soludispersed in 100 ml of a 2.5% aqueous solution of
β-cyclodextrin (1.5 g in all); the whole is stirred at 45°C for 2 hr. and thereafter
at room temperature for further 9-20 hr. Then, the whole is lyophilized.
Example 3
[0011] 2 g of dipyridamole are soludispersed in 50 ml of a 13% aqueous solution of dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin
(6.5 g in all). The soludispersion is stirred for 5-12 hr. by keeping it at the temperature
of 45°C. At the end, the whole is cooled to room temperature, is filtered off and
the clear solution is lyophilized.
Example 4
[0012] 100 mg of dipyridamole are soludispersed in 10 ml of a 1.3% aqueous solution of
β- cyclodextrin (130 mg in all). The whole is stirred for 9-12 hr. at room temperature
and is filtered off. The clear solution is dried by heating it in vacuo at 60-70°C.
Example 5
[0013] 1 g of dipyridamole is soludispersed in 50 ml of a 10% aqueous solution of γ-cyclodextrin
(5 g in all); the whole is heated at 60°C and is kept at this temperature for 9-12
hr., under stirring. After having cooled to room temperature, the whole is filtered
off and the aqueous solution is lyophilized.
Example 6
[0014] 250 ml of a 1% solution of β-cyclodextrin (2.5 g in all) are added to 500 mg of
dipyridamole; the whole is agitated at room temperature for 9-12 hr. and is dried
by atomization in air stream heated at 120°C.
Example 7
[0015] 20 litres of a 1.25% aqueous solution of β-cyclodextrin (250 g in all) are acidified
with formic acid to pH 2. Under strong stirring and after having raised the temperature
to 60°C, powdered dipyridamole (50 g) and a further amount of formic acid are added
until the compound is completely dissolved ( the final pH of the solution is kept
at 3).
[0016] After 2 hr. the heating is interrupted and the solution is kept under stirring for
further 7 hr. Thereafter, the whole is dried by atomization in air stream at 120°C.
Example 8
[0017] 1 g of dipyridamole and 5 g of β-cyclodextrin are very carefully mixed.
[0018] Slowly, while stirring, 100 ml of water heated to 60°C are poured and a 2N solution
of hydrochloric acid is added to have a final pH =2.5. The whole is stirred for further
6 hr. and then it is dried by atomization in air stream at 120°C.
Example 9
[0019] 375 mg of dipyridamole are dissolved in 100 ml of chloroform. The chloroform solution
is then strongly stirred with 100 ml of a 1.5% aqueous solution of β-cyclodextrin
(1.5 g in all) for 24 hours, at room temperature. At the end the organic phase is
separated from the aqueous phase by centrigugation at 1000 rpm, for 10 minutes. The
aqueous phase is separated and is dried by lyophilization.
Example 10
[0020] 400 mg of dipyridamole are dissolved in 20 ml of ethanol and strongly stirred with
100 ml of a 1% aqueous solution of β-cyclodextrin (1 g in all) for 24 hr, at room
temperature. Thereafter, the whole is dried at 60-70°C, in vacuo.
Example 11
[0021] 1500 mg of dipyridamole are dissolved in 50 ml of ethanol and strongly stirred with
50 ml of a 15% solution or soludispersion of α-cyclodextrin (7.5 g in all) for 24
hr, at room temperature. The crystalline precipitate is separated by filtration and
is dried at 55-60°C, in vacuo.
Quantitative determination of dipyridamole contained in the complex.
prepared according to examples from 1 to 11)
[0022] 100 mg of the inclusion complex are dissolved in 100 ml of phosphate buffer ph 5.5.
[0023] The undissolved portion is removed by filtration and in the suitably diluted filtrate,
the quantity of dipyridamole existing is measured by spectrophotometry at 284 nm.
Characterization of the inclusion complex (prepared as described in example 7) by ¹H-NMR analysis.
[0024] The solutions of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and of dipyridamole complex/β-cyclodextrin,
are prepared by dissolving 5 mg and 3 mg respectively in 0.5 ml of 99.8% D₂O ( deuterium
oxide). The dipyridamole solution is prepared by dissolving 3 mg in 0.5 ml of D₂O
at pH 3.0.
[0025] Solutions are evaporated under reduced pressure , treated with an equal volume of
D₂O three times and then analysed by means of a Bruker Spectrometer CXP-300 (300 MHz)
in Fourier's transformation. As it appears from fig. 1, the spectrum of dipyridamole/β-cyclodextrin
shows, when compared with the spectrum of single components, a significant variation
of the chemical shift, corresponding to 7.5 MHz, of the signal corresponding to the
proton in position 3 of the β-cyclodextrin (3.93 ppm). An analogous variation is
observed on the proton 5 of the β-cyclodextrin (3.83 ppm) but it cannot be measured
because of the superimposition of signals of some dipyridamole protons (CH₂ close
to heteroatoms).
[0026] These differences are those expected in the formation of complexes due to the penetration
of guest molecules in the hydrophobic cavity of cyclodextrins. The ratio between
the β-cyclodextrin and dipyridamole in the various preparations is calculated by the
ratio between the integrals of the anometric signal of the β-cyclodextrin (7H, 5.06
ppm) and of the signal corresponding to the aliphatic -CH₂- of dipyridamole ( 12H,
1.77 ppm). In one typical preparation ( the preparation described in example 7) this
molar ratio is 3 (6.7 w/w).
Solubility of the inclusion complex
[0027] As example, a typical experiment is hereinafter described.
[0028] 10 g of the dipyridamole/β-cyclodextrin complex ( prepared according to the procedure
described in example 7), 2 g of dipyridamole and 2 g of dipyridamole mixed with 8
g of lactose have been introduced into separate vessels containing 50 ml of phosphate
buffer (pH 5.5) and have been stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature.
[0029] The three samples have been filtered off and clear solutions have been read by means
of the spectrophotometer at 284 nm after suitable dilution.
[0030] It has been observed that the solution of the complex contains a quantity of dipyridamole
4.5 and 4 times higher than the other solutions.
Pharmacologic activity
[0031] Hereinafter some experiments are described carried out on animal to evaluate the
pharmacologic activity of the complexed compound ( prepared according to the procedure
described in example 7) in comparison with the pharmacologic activity of non-complexed
dipy ridamole or of dipyridamole dispersed in lactose.
a) Platelet aggregation inhibiting activity ex vivo
[0032] New Zealand whitish female rabbits ( average body weight 3.2 kg) have been treated
with capsules containing 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg respectively of the complex dipyridamole/β-cyclodextrin,
or 10 and 20 mg/kg os respectively of dipyridamole, or 60 and 120 mg/kg os respectively
of dipyridamole dispersed in lactose (in the ratio 1:5 b.w.).
[0033] 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours after treatment, 4.5 ml of blood have been drawn from
the left ear vein of the animals, in the presence of 0.5 ml of 3.8% trisodium citrate
as anticoagulant.
[0034] The platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been separated by centrifugation for 10 minutes
and has been suitably diluted to have always 250,000-300,000 platelet/mm³ with plasma
free of platelets ( obtained from blood samples by further centrifugation for 10
minutes at 3200 rpm.
[0035] The platelet aggregation has been measured by the turbidimetric method under continuous
stirring at 37°C, after having added ADP (Adenosine diphosphate to PRP (1.5 µg/ml).
[0036] Results reported in Table 1 clearly show that complexing gives rise to an aggregation
inhibiting activity more precociuos and more intense (with a ratio of at least 3:1)
and that when dipyridamole is dispersed in an inert excipient, such as lactose, its
activity is not affected.

b) Vasodilator, hypotensive and heart activity
[0037] Beagle dogs (male; average body weight 10.8 kg) have been anesthetized with pentobarbital
by i.v. (30-40 mg/kg) and the breast was aseptically opened after having started the
artificial respiration by means of a pump.
[0038] A magnetic "probe" has been placed around the circumflex coronary artery and a second
magnetic "probe" around the left common carotid artery. The wound has been sutured;
animals have been allowed to awake and have been treated with antibiotics for 5 days.
1-20 Days after the surgical operation, animals wake and trained to remain layed on
a carpet, have been pharmacologically treated by oral route while recording coronary
and carotic arterious flows. Contemporarily, by the sfygmomanometric method the arterious
pressure has been measured from the tail and the heart frequency.
[0039] The dipyridamole/β-cyclodextrin complex and dipyridamole in lactose have been administered
in capsules at doses corresponding to 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg of the active component. Each
animal has been used several times with an interval of at least two days between a
treatment and the successive one; each animal received only one single dose and one
drug only during the day of the experiment.
[0040] Data obtained have been summarized in Table 2. By comparing results there is observed
that complexing with cyclodextrins favoured the various activities considered in
that peak effects relating to systemic arterial pressure, heart frequency, coronary
and carotid flow appear with a remarkable advance and the recorded changes are undoubtedly
larger.

c) Bioavailability and pharmacocinetic
[0041] Studies have been carried out on Beagle dogs ( male and female; body weight 10-11
kg) following an experimental scheme in "cross over". This means that all animals,
16 hours fasting, received with an interval of a week both a capsule of dipyridamole/β-cyclodextrin
and a tablet of commercial dipyridamole containing 75 mg of the active ingredient.
[0042] Drawings have been carried out at the following times: 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90,
120, 150, 180, 240, 300 and 360 minutes after the treatment. Incidental side effects
have been also reported, which have appeared within 24 hours. The blood has been collected
in the presence of eparine (10 U.I./ml) and the plasma, separated by centrifugation,
has been immediately frozen and stored at -20°C until extraction. After about 10-20
days of storage, 0.2 ml of plasma has been drawn from each sample and mixed for 15
seconds with 0.5 ml of NaOH 1N. Thereafter, 4 ml of terbutylmethylether have been
added and the whole has been stirred for 1 minute. In order to separate the aqueous
phase from the organic phase the whole has been centrifuged for 5 minutes. The organic
phase has been then removed and dried to dryness under nitrogen stream. The residue
has been treated with 100 µl of the mobile phase ( methanol-H₂O (65:35) containing
0.005 M of the sodium salt of the 1-heptanesulfonic acid with 0.1% acetic acid) and
all or a portion of this volume has been injected into a high pressure liquid chromatograph
equipped with a column of the type "reversed phase" and with a fluorometer. An excitation
wave length of 285 nm has been chosen in connection with an emission filter of 470
nm.
[0043] In Table 3 the concentrations of dipyridamole are reported, measured in the plasma;
in Table 4 the corresponding calculated phar macocinetic parameters are reported.
[0044] The complex dipyridamole/β -CD results more bioavailable than commercial dipyridamole
and shows more precocious and higher blood levels of the active ingredient. Furthermore,
adsorption appears to be more constant in each animal, as it is clear when observing
standard errors of means calculated for blood concentrations at various times; these
standard errors are less. This result is very important because it is known that also
in the man a remarkable variability exists as to the adsorption. Furthermore, it
is well known that the therapeutic index of dipyridamole is very limited, in that
with blood levels higher that 2-2.5 γ/ml dipyridamole can show undesired side effects
( such as cephalea and nausea) and with blood levels lower than 0.5-1 γ/ml dipyridamole
does not result pharmacologically active.
[0045] All the above clearly shows that the described invention has a particular therapeutic
interest attributed to its better bioavailability, to the higher and quiker activity
and to the lower number of side effects.

[0046] Furthermore, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing
as active ingredient the dipyridamole complexed with cyclodextrins and mixed with
suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
[0047] Pharmaceutical forms can be administered either by oral route or by parenteral or
by rectal route as capsules, tablets, granulates etc. The unit dose of the active
ingredient in the above mentioned forms may vary from 10 to 300 mg for twice or many
times a day. Some examples are reported to illustrate the pharmaceutical compositions
without limiting them in any way.
Example 12
[0048] Tablets of 930 mg containing 150 mg of dipyridamole are prepared according to known
methods using the complex of example 7. These tablets have the following composition
complex of example 7 900 mg
magnesium stearate 8mg
sodium amidoglycolate 22mg
Example 13
[0049] Tablets of 465 mg containing 75 mg of dipyridamole are prepared starting from the
complex of example 7, according to the generally used technique. These tablets have
the following composition
complex of example 7 450mg
magnesium stearate 4mg
sodium amidoglycolate 11mg
Example 14
[0050] By working as described in example 12, each tablet containing 900 mg of the complex
of example 7 is covered with 100 mg of acid resistant methacrylic polymers.
[0051] By this way, gastro-resistant tablets are obtained containing 150 mg of dipyridamole.
Example 15
[0052] By working as described in example 13, each tablet containing 450 mg of the complex
according to example 7 is covered with 60 mg of acid-resistant methacrylic polymers.
Thus, gastro-resistant tablets are obtained, containing 75 mg of dipyridamole.
Example 16
[0053] 900 g of the complex of example 7, 22 g of sodium amidoglycolate, 8 g of magnesium
stearate, 50 g of powdered orange flavour and 3.9 kg of saccharose are intimately
mixed; the mixture is granulated and the thus obtained granulate is introduced into
1000 sachets. Thus, 1000 dose units are obtained, containing 150 mg of dipyridamole.
Example 17
[0054] 450 g of the complex according to example 7, 60 g of sodium amidoglycolate, 15 g
of magnesium stearate, 50 g of powdered orange flavour and 3.425 kg of saccharose
are intimately mixed; the mixture is granulated and the thus obtained granulate is
introduced into 1000 sachets. By this way, 1000 dose units containing 75 mg of dipyridamole
are obtained.
Example 18
[0055] 4.5 g of the complex according to example 7, 25 g of magnesium stearate and 135 g
of sodium amidoglycolate are intimately mixed and 5000 capsules are then filled with
the obtained mixture.
[0056] By this way, capsules containing 150 mg of dipyridamole are obtained.
Example 19
[0057] By working as described in example 8, from 4.5 Kg of the complex of example 7, 10,000
capsules are prepared containing 75 mg of dipyridamole/β-cyclodextrin in the molar
ratio 1:3.
Example 20
[0058] 10,000 Suppositories containing 150 mg of dipyridamole as active ingredient are prepared
by adding 9 kg of the complex according to example 7 to 21 kg of a mass for suppositories
consisting of solid semi-synthetic glycerides ( or polyethyleneglycols, or esters
of fatty acids of polyoxyethylenesorbitan or polyoxyethylenestearates), suitably
molten, by intimately mixing the whole and pouring into suitable molds.
[0059] Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the now described forms and whatever
modification can be introduced without going out from limits of the same invention.
1. Compound obtained by complexing dipyridamole with a cyclodextrin or dimethylcyclodextrin
of the α, β and γ type in the molar ratio dipyridamole: cyclodextrin comprised between
1:1 and 1:12 respectively.
2. Compound according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio dipyridamole:cyclodextrin
varies from 1:1 and 1:10.
3. Compound according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio dipyridamole:cyclodextrin
is between 1:1.3 and 1:6.
4. Compound according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio dipyridamole: cyclodextrin
is between 1:2.5 and 1:5.
5. Compound according to any of claims from 1 to 4, wherein the cyclodextrin is β-cyclodextrin.
6. Process for the preparation of compounds as defined in each of claims from 1 to
5, characterized in that dipyridamole is allowed to react under stirring with cyclodextrins
or didmethylcyclodextrins, in aqueous solution or dispersion, acidified or non acidified.
7. Process for the preparation of compounds as defined in each of claims from 1 to
5, characterized in that a solution of suspension of dipyridamole in an organic solvent
and an aqueous solution or suspension of cyclodextrins are reacted under stirring
and the obtained crystalline complex is separated.
8. Process according to claim 6, characterized in that the complex is recovered by
evaporation under heat of the solvent and drying in vacuo.
9. Process according to claim 6, characterized in that the complex is recovered by
freeze-drying of the solution.
10. Process according to claim 6, characterized in that the complex is recovered
by atomization of the solution in hot air stream.
11. Compounds endowed with platelet aggregation inhibiting action, antithrombotic
and vasodilator properties, obtained by complexing dipyridamole with a cyclodextrin
or dimethylcyclodextrin of the α, β and γ type according to any of claims from 6 to
10.
12. Pharmaceutical composition containing as active ingredient an inclusion complex
according to any of claims from 1 to 5.
13. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 12, containing the dipyridamole
in a quantity from 10 to 300 mg per unit dosage.